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Optional Practical Training (OPT)
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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
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OPT is a temporary authorization offered to students on F-1 visa to work on their related field for a period of total 12 months.
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CPT is a temporary work authorization provided to the students on F-1 visa, which is directly related to their majors for period of total 12 months.
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OPT Eligibility Requirement : The students must have been pursuing their course full-time for at least one full academic year.
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CPT Eligibility Requirement : If the students complete their full-time CPT for a period of 12 months then they would be no longer eligible for OPT. Besides, the students must have been enrolled full time for at least one academic year.
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OPT in order to receive OPT authorization, students do not require any employment or job offer.
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CPT: While applying for CPT, students require a job or employment offer.
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OPT program has two variants— Pre-completion OPT and Post-completion OPT. Students can pursue OPT while there still on their academics with Pre-completion OPT. And, with Post-completion OPT students can start their OPT after their graduation.
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CPT is for total 12 months and it can be either full-time or part time.
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Students require OPT to work for a total period of 12 months (Pre or Post Completion OPT). Yet, students have an option to extend their OPT for another 17 months with STEM OPT extension; this is only applicable to certain majors.
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Having CPT to work, students can be on job for a total period of 12 months. But, students will not have option to work on OPT once they complete their 12 month CPT.
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With OPT, students’ employment experience must be related to their majors or field of study and it doesn’t have to be a part of their academic curriculum.
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With CPT, students’ employment experience must be directly related to their major or field of study. Plus, it must be a part of students’ curriculum; this implies, students’ employment experience must offer credits in their curriculum.
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OPT students can work part-time when University/ college is in term; during vacation students can work full-time.
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CPT students can work part-time when University/College is in term; during off-session, students can work full-time.
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Students on OPT can work with any employer across the US as long as their OPT jobs are related to their field of study.
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Students on CPT can work only with employers those are on Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and I-20 list.
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